Getting to Windsor

How to reach Windsor by train, bus, car, or bicycle.

Train

Windsor has two railway stations, both a three to five minute walk from the Castle, and the train is the easiest way in from London. Windsor & Eton Central (station code WNC) is served by Great Western Railway from London Paddington, changing at Slough onto a short branch-line shuttle, a total of roughly 30 to 35 minutes. Windsor & Eton Riverside (station code WNR) is served by South Western Railway direct from London Waterloo with no change, roughly 55 minutes. Contactless pay-as-you-go has been extending across South East commuter stations, so on many days you can simply tap in and out; otherwise buy a ticket, and a Railcard saves a third if you are eligible.

Central: Windsor & Eton Central (WNC): Great Western Railway from London Paddington, change at Slough, about 30 to 35 minutes
Riverside: Windsor & Eton Riverside (WNR): South Western Railway direct from London Waterloo, about 55 minutes, no change
Walk To Castle: Both stations are a 3 to 5 minute walk from Windsor Castle
Fares: Buy Advance tickets ahead for the cheapest fares, and consider a Railcard for a third off

Tips

•From Paddington you change at Slough for the Windsor branch; from Waterloo it is direct.
•Both stations are only a few minutes' walk from the Castle, so either works for a day trip.
•A Railcard pays for itself quickly if you are making more than a couple of trips.

Bus & Coach

Buses and coaches connect Windsor with Heathrow and with London. From Heathrow, the First Bus Route 8 runs direct between Terminal 5 and Windsor town centre, up to every 30 minutes and taking up to about an hour, and Reading Buses' Flightline 703 also links Heathrow Terminal 5 with Windsor. From central London, Reading Buses' London Line 702 runs a direct coach from London Victoria to Windsor, also serving Legoland. Contactless is accepted on the local buses. Coaches are cheaper than the train from London but slower and subject to traffic.

From Heathrow: First Bus Route 8 (Terminal 5 to Windsor, up to every 30 minutes, up to about an hour); Reading Buses Flightline 703
From London: Reading Buses London Line 702 direct from London Victoria, also serving Legoland
Fares: Contactless accepted; book coach fares ahead for the best price

Tips

•The First Bus Route 8 is a cheap, direct link from Heathrow Terminal 5 into Windsor.
•The London Line 702 coach from Victoria also stops at Legoland, useful for a family trip.
•Bus route numbers and operators can change; reconfirm before you travel.

Driving & Parking

Windsor's compact, historic centre is best explored on foot, and official advice is to avoid driving into the middle if you can. If you do drive, use the main car parks: Alexandra Gardens, Alma Road, the Coach Park on Alma Road, River Street, the Q-Park at Windsor Royal Shopping by the Central station, Windsor Leisure Centre and Windsor Library. The town is about twenty miles west of London off the M4 and M25 and close to Heathrow. Note that while Windsor itself has no congestion or clean-air charge, driving into central London does, so weigh up the train instead for a London leg.

Car Parks: Alexandra Gardens, Alma Road, the Coach Park, River Street, Windsor Royal (Q-Park), Leisure Centre and Library
Approach: About 20 miles west of London off the M4 and M25, close to Heathrow
Advice: Avoid driving into the compact centre; use a car park or park and ride
Charges: No charge to drive in Windsor, but central London has a congestion charge and ULEZ

Tips

•Confirm current parking tariffs with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead before you travel.
•Do not drive into central London; take the train from Windsor instead.
•Arrive early on busy summer and event days, when car parks fill quickly.

Cycling

Windsor is easy to get around on foot, but cycling opens up the Great Park and the river. Windsor Great Park has traffic-free cycling routes, though not on the Long Walk and Deer Park section, and the Thames Path offers riverside riding toward Runnymede and Maidenhead. Bike hire is available locally, including e-bikes, though operators change, so confirm current hire before relying on it. It is a pleasant, mostly flat area to ride once you are out of the busy town centre.

Great Park: Traffic-free cycling routes in Windsor Great Park, but not on the Long Walk and Deer Park section
Riverside: The Thames Path gives riverside riding toward Runnymede and Maidenhead
Hire: Bike and e-bike hire available locally; confirm current operators

Tips

•The Great Park is the best local riding, away from the town-centre traffic.
•Cycling is not permitted on the Long Walk itself; use the Park's other routes.
•Confirm the current bike-hire operator and rates before you count on it.

From the Airport

Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.

London Heathrow AirportLHR

11 km away

TaxiTaxi or private transfer

Duration: About 20 to 30 minutes
Cost: Roughly £25 to £45; verify at the time of travel

Heathrow is very close to Windsor, roughly 6 to 7 miles, so a taxi or pre-booked transfer is the fastest door-to-door option and makes Windsor a natural first or last night of a UK trip.

BusFirst Bus Route 8 from Terminal 5

Duration: Up to about 1 hour
Cost: Local bus fare; contactless accepted

The First Bus Route 8 runs direct between Heathrow Terminal 5 and Windsor town centre, up to every 30 minutes. Reading Buses' Flightline 703 also links Terminal 5 with Windsor.

Operator: First Bus

DrivingDrive via the M4 or M25

Duration: About 20 to 30 minutes
Cost: Fuel and parking, or car hire

Windsor is a short drive from Heathrow off the M4 and M25. Car hire at the airport is flexible if you plan to explore the wider area, but park on the edge of Windsor rather than driving into the centre.

London Gatwick AirportLGW

60 km away

DrivingDrive via the M25

Duration: About 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes
Cost: Fuel and parking, or car hire

Gatwick is further than Heathrow, about 40 miles via the M25, but is a useful alternative arrival point depending on your flight. Allow more time in traffic around the M25.

RailTrain via London

Duration: About 1 hour 45 minutes with changes
Cost: Standard rail fares

From Gatwick, take a train into central London and change onto a Windsor service from Paddington (via Slough) or Waterloo. Plan the connection as part of one journey.

Operator: National Rail

EV & Essentials

Practical infrastructure on the ground: charging, water, and accessibility facilities worth knowing about before you arrive.

Accessibility Facilities

Windsor Castle Changing Places toilet

Accessible toilet · Within Windsor Castle (Royal Collection Trust)

A Changing Places toilet with hoist and adult changing bench is available on the Castle site; confirm current arrangements and any accessible-route detail via the Royal Collection Trust before visiting.

Parking

Parking options in and around Windsor. On busy weekends, arriving early is recommended.

Town-centre car parks

Confirm current tariffs locally. Windsor's compact, historic centre is best explored on foot, and driving into the middle is discouraged. Main car parks include Alexandra Gardens, Alma Road, the Coach Park on Alma Road, River Street, Windsor Leisure Centre, Windsor Library and the Q-Park at Windsor Royal Shopping by the Central station. Confirm current tariffs and any restrictions with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead before you travel.

Planning the wider trip?

Our country-level primer covers national rail, intercity buses, airports, the Leap Card, and whether you actually need a hire car for your trip around United Kingdom.

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